Holographic image machining process and product

ABSTRACT

A holographic image machining process and/or product. For the holographic image machining process a material and a cutting tool are provided. The material is contacted by the cutting tool. The cutting tool is rotated to cut the material at a predetermined rotational speed and depth. The cutting tool is moved to cut the material at a predetermined travel speed and depth. A holographic image is produced in the material through the contacting, rotating, and moving steps. A product with a holographic image has a surface with rotational cuts effected therein to create the holographic image. The holographic image has an effect based on a rotational speed of a cutting tool effecting the cuts, a travel speed of a cutting tool effecting the cuts, and a depth of the cuts. A light source can be used to emit light on the surface of the product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to holographic images and, more particularly to a holographic image machining process and/or product.

2. Description of Related Art

Holographic images are three-dimensional images visible from an oblique angle. They appear to float in space and can change perspective. Numerous techniques for producing products with holographic images are known in the art. For example, a layer of plastic can be passed through a machine which imparts an image within the covering or upper strata of the plastic layer. A powdered metallic constituent or component is then applied thereon by a metalizing process. After metalizing, a holographic or three-dimensional image is imparted on the metalized layer of plastic. Such a holographic image is widely used within the credit card and security industries since the resulting image is difficult to duplicate and thus assists in the prevention of fraud by counterfeiting, for example.

Another example involves laminating the holographic image to a polymeric support by contacting the holographic image on the polymeric support to a substrate such as tissue paper or foil via an adhesive, and delaminating the polymeric support, thereby transferring the holographic image from the polymeric support to the tissue paper or foil substrate. The image cannot be directly applied to a substrate having a rough surface because the rough surface of the substrate will refract light and will not have a highly reflective finish, thereby disrupting the holographic image.

Currently, no processes are available which produce holographic images on the surface of a material by cutting material out of the surface of the material. As such, a need exists for a holographic image machining process and/or product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a holographic image machining process and/or product. For the holographic image machining process a material and a cutting tool are provided. The material is contacted by the cutting tool. The cutting tool is rotated to cut the material at a predetermined rotational speed and depth. The cutting tool is moved to cut the material at a predetermined travel speed and depth. A holographic image is produced in the material through the above described contacting, rotating, and moving steps. A light source can be provided to emit light on the produced holographic image.

A product with a holographic image has a surface with rotational cuts effected therein to create the holographic image. The holographic image has an effect based on a rotational speed of a cutting tool effecting the cuts, a travel speed of a cutting tool effecting the cuts, and a depth of the cuts. A light source can be used to emit light on the surface of the product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a material machined with a holographic image and a light source emitting light onto the material according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged portion of a material partially machined with a holographic image according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a vertical machining tool configured to carry out a machining process according the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view of a material being machined according to the resent invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a tool path of a machining process according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a tool path of a machining process according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of an end mill for use in a machining process according to the present invention.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, and 8F are examples of products machined with holographic images according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a holographic image machining process and/or product. The invention disclosed herein is, of course, susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. Shown in the drawings and described herein below in detail are preferred embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and does not limit the invention to the illustrated embodiments.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a material 10 machined with a holographic image and a light source 30 emitting light 40 onto the material 10 and illuminating the holographic image. The holographic image is machined on the surface 20 of the material 10. The light source 30 includes a light element 32 (e.g., a light bulb or the like). To view the effects of the illumination of the holographic image on the surface 20 of the material 10, the position of the light source 30 can be adjusted to alter the angle of incidence of the emitted light 40. By altering the angle of incidence of the emitted light 40, the refracted light waves cause the holographic image to appear as a three dimensional image, to have depth above and/or below the surface 20, and to refract colors of the emitted light 40 as desired. FIG. 2 illustrates a partially machined material surface 100.

As used herein, “holographic image” means a three-dimensional image visible from an oblique angle. They appear to float in space and can change perspective. The “holographic image” can be in any geometric form, any non-geographic form, or any combination of geometric or non-geometric forms, such as alphanumeric characters, shapes, patterns, images, circles, ovals, triangles, squares, rectangles, octagonals, etc. Additional forms can be icons, pictures, slogans, logos, signs, cartoon characters, flowers, etc.

The light element 32 is preferably one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) or halogen lights, but can be any type of incandescent source with varying effects on the visual effects of the holographic image. Such incandescent sources can be candle-luminescent sources (e.g., gas mantles, carbon arch radiation sources, etc.), cathode luminescent sources using electronic satiation, electro-luminescent sources (e.g., electro-luminescent lamps, filament lamps, etc.), fluorescent sources, lasers, phosphorescence sources, photo-luminescent sources (e.g., gaseous discharges, etc.), and/or pyro-luminescent sources (e.g. flames, etc.). Additional miscellaneous luminescent sources include crystallo-luminescent sources, galvano-luminescent sources, kine-luminescent sources, radioluminescent sources, sonoluminescent sources, thermo-luminescent sources, and/or triboluminescent sources. The light element 32 can also include luminescent polymers capable of producing primary colors.

The light element 32 emits light 40 to illuminate the holographic image with a color on the surface 20 of the material 10. As used herein, “illuminate” means the production of a frequency of radiation by the light element 32, and “color” means any frequency of radiation within a spectrum. More particularly, “color”, encompasses frequencies not only of the visible spectrum, but also frequencies in the infrared and ultraviolet areas of the spectrum, and in other areas of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The material 10 can be any of a variety of material, such as wood, plastic, acrylic, etc., and can be any metal, such as aluminum, copper, brass, titanium, magnesium, stainless steel, and any other ferrous and/or non-ferrous metal, or combinations thereof. The material can also be configured to place on or to integrate with other structures, such as tables, walls, furniture, musical instruments, bicycles, cars, boats, airplanes, etc. (see FIGS. 8A-8F). The material 10 can have any desired thickness.

The material 10 is processed according to the invention to produce the holographic image on may be carried out on any type of machine that can use a rotating cutting tool. For example, a multi-axis computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine having a cutting tool that is configured to operate upon a workpiece can be used, or a manually operated machine. The cutting tool is preferably a type of end mill with a number of flutes, such two to eight, etc. (see FIG. 7). Various types of end mills may be used, such as finishing, tapered, corner rounds, ball nose, roughing, shell, etc. Alternatively, the cutting tool may be configured as an engraving tool or the like. Such cutting tools cut the material by creating a series of circular scratches, tool marks, etc. The depth of cut, or the amount of material removed, does not necessarily determine the effect of the holographic image. Rather, the rotating speed of the tool, the travel speed of the tool across the surface 20 of the material 10, and the depth of the cut of the circular scratches or tool marks created by the tool, determines the outcome of the effect of the holographic image.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a CNC vertical machining tool 200 that can be used to carry out the process according to the invention. The machining tool 200 includes a frame or base 210 and is configured to utilize a cutting tool 240. The machining tool 200 holds a workpiece W in a controlled position and the cutting tool 240 travels along a predetermined tool path by movable servo motors 230 that are interconnected to a controller 220. The controller 220 includes a user interface with input/output elements such as keys, buttons, etc., as well as a display (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), an LED display, a cathode ray tube, etc.) to show the cut material in real time or other displays, such as the desired tool path, etc. Protective shielding 250 formed of protective material such as LEXAN or the like is provided for enhancing the safety of tool operators.

The machining tool 200 is controlled by a computer program, called a part program, which serially instructs the machining tool 200 to perform a sequential series of discrete operations in a predetermined sequence so that the cutting tool 240 moves along the programmed tool path determined by the part program. Part programs can be written using G&M code programming which is well known in the art (‘G’ refers to preparatory code and ‘M’ refers to miscellaneous machine functions). Other appropriate programming code can also be used. Each individual instruction is termed a “block” and standard programming blocks include start-up commands for setting particular machine parameters, cutting tool parameters, etc.

Additional blocks set forth the travel speed of the cutting tool 240 across the workpiece W, the rotational of speed of the cutting tool 240, and the depth of cut in the workpiece by the cutting tool 240. The blocks effect commands for each or a combination of controllable axes of the machining tool 200. The blocks, once programmed into the controller 220, either directly or remotely through a wireless and/or non-wireless communicatively interconnected computer, are then fixed in a set sequential order. The whole set of sequential blocks can then be automatically operated by the machining tool 200 which then operates from start to finish of the part program.

Once the machining tool 200 is programmed for a particular workpiece W, the workpiece W is mounted on the machining tool 200 via clamps or the like, and the cutting tool 240 is rotated to cut the workpiece W at a predetermined rotational speed and depth. The cutting tool 240 is also moved to cut the workpiece W at a predetermined travel speed and depth. The rotational speed, travel speed, and depth of cut can be varied during the course of movement of the cutting tool 240 to produce desired holographic image effects on the surface of the workpiece W. The rotational speed of the cutting tool 240 can vary as desired, such as between zero and about 100,000 rpm, and the travel speed can vary as desired, such as between zero and about 100,000 inches per minute (for example, 4,000 rpm and 100 inches per minute).

FIG. 4 shows a material 300 being machined with a cutting tool 310. The cutting tool 310 follows along a tool path, such as tool path 400 shown in FIG. 5, tool path 500 shown in FIG. 6, or the like. An end mill 600 for use with the process is shown in FIG. 7. The end mill 600 has an overall length L with an outer diameter D, a cutting portion having an outer diameter D2 with a length L2 including a length L1 with cutting flutes ending with a cutting diameter D1, and a cutting radius r.

Examples of products machined according to the process are shown in FIGS. 8A through 8F. FIG. 8A shows a shoe, FIG. 8B shows drum surfaces, FIG. 8C shows a furniture surface, FIG. 8D shows a material with a pattern, FIG. 8E shows a guitar with a metal surface, and FIG. 8F shows a picture of a lady. The products may be configured in any desired configuration.

In summary, to carry out the holographic image machining process according to the invention. A material and a cutting tool are provided. The material is contacted by the cutting tool. The cutting tool is rotated to cut the material at a predetermined rotational speed and depth. The cutting tool is moved to cut the material at a predetermined travel speed and depth. A holographic image is produced in the material through the above described contacting, rotating, and moving steps. A light source can be provided to emit light on the produced holographic image.

A product with a holographic image has a surface with rotational cuts effected therein to create the holographic image. The holographic image has an effect based on a rotational speed of a cutting tool effecting the cuts, a travel speed of a cutting tool effecting the cuts, and a depth of the cuts. A light source can be used to emit light on the surface of the product.

While the invention has been described with references to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teaching of the invention without departing from its essential teachings. 

1. A holographic image machining process comprising: providing a material; providing a cutting tool; contacting the material with the cutting tool; rotating the cutting tool to cut the material at a predetermined rotational speed and depth; moving the cutting tool to cut the material at a predetermined travel speed and depth; and producing a holographic image in the material through the contacting, rotating, and moving steps.
 2. The process according to claim 1, further comprising providing a light source and emitting light on the produced holographic image.
 3. The process according to claim 2, wherein the step of providing a light source and emitting light on the produced holographic image further comprises providing the light source as an incandescent source.
 4. The process according to claim 3, wherein the step of providing a light source and emitting light on the produced holographic image further comprises selecting the light source from the group consisting of a candle-luminescent source, a cathode luminescent source, an electro-luminescent source, a fluorescent source, a halogen light source, a laser, a light emitting diode, a phosphorescence source, a photo-luminescent source, a pyro-luminescent source, a crystallo-luminescent source, a galvano-luminescent source, a kine-luminescent source, a radioluminescent source, a sonoluminescent source, a thermo-luminescent source, a triboluminescent source, or combinations thereof.
 5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the steop of providing a material further comprises providing the material as metal.
 6. The process according to claim 5, wherein the step of providing a material further comprises selecting the material from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, brass, titanium, magnesium, steel, ferrous metal, non-ferrous metal, and combinations thereof.
 7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing a material further comprises providing selecting the material from the group consisting of wood, plastic, acrylic, and combinations thereof.
 8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing a cutting tool further comprises providing a cutting tool in the form of an end mill.
 9. The process according to claim 8, wherein the step of providing a cutting tool further comprises providing the end mill with at least one flute.
 10. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing a cutting tool further comprises providing a cutting tool in the form of an engraving tool.
 11. A product with a holographic image machined therein, said product having a surface with rotational cuts effected therein to create the holographic image, wherein said holographic image has an effect based on a rotational speed of a cutting tool effecting the cuts, a travel speed of a cutting tool effecting the cuts, and a depth of the cuts.
 12. The product according to claim 11, in combination with a light source to emit light on the surface of the product.
 13. The product according to claim 12, wherein the light source is an incandescent source.
 14. The product according to claim 13, wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of a candle-luminescent source, a cathode luminescent source, an electro-luminescent source, a fluorescent source, a halogen light source, a laser, a light emitting diode, a phosphorescence source, a photo-luminescent source, a pyro-luminescent source, a crystallo-luminescent source, a galvano-luminescent source, a kine-luminescent source, a radioluminescent source, a sonoluminescent source, a thermo-luminescent source, a triboluminescent source, or combinations thereof.
 15. The product according to claim 11, wherein said material is metal.
 16. The product according to claim 15, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, brass, titanium, magnesium, steel, ferrous metal, non-ferrous metal, and combinations thereof.
 17. The product according to claim 11, wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of wood, plastic, acrylic, and combinations thereof.
 18. The product according to claim 11, in combination with a cutting tool in the form of an end mill.
 19. The product according to claim 18, wherein said end mill includes at least one flute.
 20. The product according to claim 11, in combination with a cutting tool in the form of an engraving tool. 